Trip-wire flare



Nov. 29, 1960 L. D. JAcKsoN 2,961,962

l TRIE--WIRE FLARE Filed Jan. 19. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1v L Jwkson '21M mw( Nov. 29, 1960 L. D. JAcKsoN 2,961,962

TRIP-WIRE FLARE Filed Jan. 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ffz TRIP-WIRE FLARE Leonard D. Jackson, Alexandria, Va. (Colonial Beach, Va.)

Filed Jan. 19, 1945, Ser. No. 573,622

2 Claims. (Cl. 102-37.8) (Granted under `Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) This invention relates to a trip-wire are and is particularly adapted for use during the night in jungle warfare and so arranged as to be inadvertently tripped and fired by an enemy raiding party or scouting party thereby causing sufficient light to be emitted therefrom to illuminate the surrounding area and any target disposed therein.

More specifically, the invention relates to a trip-wire flare the chemical contents.

Another object is to provide a normally sealed flare having new and improved means for igniting the light emitting chemical therein in which sufficient pressure vis generated as the flare is ignitedto unseal the flare.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a trip-wire flare of new and improved construction in which the pyrotechnic retaining means is undamaged as a result of the pressure caused by the ignition of the pyrotechnic materials therein.

Still other objects, advantages and vimprovements will become apparent from Vthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:

tFig. l is a view of the trip-wire are of the present invention arranged in an operative position;

Fig. 2 is a centrally vertical section of the trip-wire flare showing the firing unit with the trigger member thereof held in safety or unarmed position;

vFig. 3 `is a detail perspective view of the firing pin employed with the are;

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary perspective view of the trigger lmember of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the trip-wire flare showing the device in safety or unarmed position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the are in operation .and the position of the parts of the firing unit after being released; and

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the trip-wire are and the trigger member actuating means and showing a Vportion of the are supporting means of Fig. 1.

Referring to the dra-wings in detail for a more complete understanding of the invention, the trip-wire flare disclosed thereon comprises a casing 10 composed of metal or any other material suitable for the purpose and having .an end wall`11 secured thereto as by rivets or the like indicated by the reference character 12. A housing generally indicated by the reference character 13 is mounted on the upper end of the casing 10, and comprises an annular member 14 adapted to reinforce the upper end of the casing 10. A recess 15 is provided in the annular "-member- 14 and is adapted to receive a bead, 16 formed ice on the casing 16 by pressing a portion thereof into the recess 15 thereby providing a permanent connection be` tween the housing and the casing 10. The upperedge of the casing 10 is adapted to seat in a lrecess 17 provided in a flange member 18 integrally formed with the annular member 14. A pyrotechnic container 19 having a pyrotechnic candle arranged therein and generally indicated by the reference character 20 is enclosed within the casing 10. The pyrotechnic candle is composed Vof a quantity of pyrotechnic material 21 having a first quick fire composition 22 arranged thereon, thereby providing means for causing quick and positive ignition of the pyrotechnic material 21 after ignition of` the .first quick re composition 22.

It will be apparent from the drawings especially with reference to Figs. 2 and 6 thereof that the pyrotechnic container19 is securely held within the casing 10 due to the provision of a plurality of plates or discs 23 arranged within the lower end of the casing 10, the uppermost plate thereof having abutting relation with respect to the end wall 24 of the pyrotechnic container 19 while the upper end of the container 19 engages the lower surface of the ange 18. The discs 23 also provide cushioning lor reinforcing means for the pyrotechnic container 19 thereby preventing the blowing out of the end wall 11 of the casing 10 by the pressure generated when ignition of the pyrotechnic materials occurs. The flange 18 of the housing 13 has a relatively large centrally disposed lopening 25 therethrough and includes an annular rib 26 extending upwardly therefrom, thereby providing a seat for a disc or plate designated by the reference character 27 composed of any material suitable for the purpose but preferably of durable metal. A disc 28 composed preferably of onionskin paper or the like and larger in diameter than the plate 27 is arranged thereon with the outer edge ofthe disc 28 in engagement with the inner surface of the annular member 14. A disc 29 of the same diameter as the disc 28 and composed of brass or any other material suitable for the purpose, is adapted to rest upon the disc 28, the outer edge thereof being soldered to the inner surface of the annular member 14 thereby providing a hermetically sealed pressure chamber 31 within the housing 13.

The disc 28 arranged between the disc 29 and the plate 27 provides a heat barrier therebetween whereby the heat produced by the soldering operation is prevented from being transmitted to the disc 27 and distortion of the disc as a result of the soldering operation is avoided. It will be apparent that the arrangement of the disc 28 and the rib 26 forms a barrier whereby the molten solder is prevented from seeping therebetween during the soldering operation and thus accidental soldering of the plate 27 to the llange 18 is prevented. The annular member 14 also includes an enlarged portion 32 Vhaving abore or chamber 33 therein, the bore 33 being provided with screw threaded portion 34 adapted to have threaded engagement with the threaded portion 35 of a tubular member 36, thereby providing means for supporting the tubular member in proximate spaced relation with respect to the casing 10. An adapter generally indicated by the reference character 37 is also provided, the adapter having a flange 38 connected thereto, and adapted to be clamped between the upper end of tubular member 36 and a shoulder 39 provided Within the chamber 33, thereby supporting the adapter in a fixed position within the chamber. The adapter 37 is also provided with a centrally disposed opening 41 therein for the reception of a primer 42, the primer 42 having the usual flange 43 adapted to seat snugly into a recess provided in the adapter 37. A bag or sack 45 contain- `ing a quantity of explosive powder is arranged within the chamber 33 in such relation4 with respect to the primer 42 as to be ignited by the primer as the primer is fired. A firing pin generally indicated by the reference character 46 is enclosed within the tubular member 36 and comprises a body portion 47 having an impinging or tiring pin 48 arranged on the upper end thereor` adapted to strike the primer 42 as the firing pin is released. A piston shaped guidemember 49 is secured to the body portion 47 of the firing -pin 46 adjacent to the upper end thereof and is adapted to slide freely within the bore 51 provided in Ithe tubular member 36, retardation of the sliding movement of the firing pin by compression of the air between the guide member and the primer being prevented by the provision of a pair of vents 40 within the guide member. Surrounding the body portion 47 of the tiring pin 46 and arranged within the bore 51 is a spring 52, one fend Vof the lspring being adapted to contact the guide member 49 while the other end thereof is adapted to seat upon a shoulder 50 provided therefor within the tubular member 36, the spring being of sufficient strength to cause the primer to be tired by the tiring pin 48 as the firing pin is released from a retracted position in reponse to a predetermined increase in tension in the trip wire secured to the trigger member, as will more clearly appear as the description proceeds. The body portion 47 of the vfiring pin 46 is `adapted to have free sliding movement through a reduced bore 53 provided in the tubular member 43:6. A recess 54 is provided in the lower end of the tubular member 36 thereby housing a portion of a trigger lmember generally indicated by the reference character 55.

The trigger member 55 comprises a body portion 56 Yhaving a reduced member 57 extending therefrom and adapted to `extend into the bore 53 and to be releasably -connected to the body portion 47 of the firing pin 46 in .the manner illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings. 4Apshoulder 58 is provided on the trigger member 55 and is adapted to be inserted within the tubular member 36 `:in abutting relation with respect to a shoulder 59 provided within the tubular member adjacent the lower end thereof. In Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawing the firing unit is shown in the safety or unarmed position with the safety pin 61 not detached therefrom. The safety pin passes through `one of two pairs of diametrically opposite openings 62 provided in the lower end of Ithe tubular member 36 and also passes through an opening 63 in the trigger member 55 which is in registration with one of the pairs of openings 62, thereby locking the trigger member S5 and preventing accidental ring of the tiring pin 46. A link or ring 64 preferably is connected to the lower end of the trigger member 55 in any suitable manner as by the opening65 therein for the reception of the link. Secured to the link in any suitable manner is a trip-wire 66 for tripping the trigger member 55 when the device is in armed condition.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings the firing pin 46 and the trigger member S are releasably connected together within the tubular member 36 as by means of a detent 67 provided on the body portion 47 of the tiring pin and a complementary detent 68 provided on the reduced exten- `sion 57 of the trigger member. It will be noted however,

that when the device is in armed condition with the safety pin removed therefrom, the detents 67 and 68 are held in -mutual engagement by contact with the walls of the reduced bore 53 within the tubular member 36 and will remain so engaged until a predetermined tension has been applied to the trip-wire 66. When this occurs, the trigger member 55 is moved downwardly thereby imparting downward movement to` the firing pin 46 due to the interlocking connection therebetween thus additionally compress- Ving the spring 52 surrounding the tiring pin 46 between vthe guide member 49 thereon and the shoulder S0 within the tubular member 36. When the upper end 69 of the Adetent 68 moves past the shoulder 59, the ring pin 46 will .be released therefrom under tension of the spring 52 due .to the coacting inclined surfaces 70 provided on each of the detents and also due to the entrance of the reduced extension 57 into the recess 54 thereby providing sufficient room to allow the trigger member to become disengaged from the firing pin as shown in `dashed outline on Fig. 6 of the drawings. It will be understood, however, that when the tiring pin is released under tension of the spring 52 by the trigger member 55, additional force is applied thereto due to the action of the spring sufficient to cause firing of the primer 42 as the impinging pin 48 strikes the primer. When this occurs the powder within the sack or bag is ignited thereby igniting the pyrotechnic candle and concurrently therewith generating suticient pressure within the pressure chamber to remove forcibly the sealing disc from the housing either by breaking the solder seal or shearing `the sealing disc by the plate 27, as the case may be. A passageway or duct 71 is arranged within the housing 13 and connects the bore 33 with the pressure chamber 31 thereby providing means whereby the pressure and tlash is allowed to enter the pressure chamber 31 from the chamber 33 and ignite the pyrotechnic candle as the primer 42 is tired and the powder contained within the sack 45 is ignited.

On Fig. 1 of the drawings the trip-wire iiare is shown attached to a tree A by means of a strap 72 adapted to pass around the tree and also pass through a loop 73 secured to the casing 10 in any suitable manner, the ends of the strap being detachably fastened together in any convenient manner as by a buckle whereby the flare is held in a predetermined spaced position from the ground.y One end of the trip-wire is operatively connected to the trigger member 55 as heretofore described and passes through a loop or eye 74 attached to the tree A while the other end -thereof is secured to a loop or eye 75 attached to a tree B whereby sutlcient initial tension is applied to the trip-wire to hold the portion 76 of the trip-wire extending between the trees A and B in predetermined spaced relation with respect to the ground such that the trigger member is adapted to be tripped by a nocturnal prowler engaging the trip-wire when sufficient pressure or stress has been applied thereto. While in Fig. l of the drawings trees are employed as a means for support-ing the device in operative position, it will be understood, however, that any means suitable for the purpose may be used, such, for example, as stakes or the like. Furthermore, while on the drawings a single trip-wire is shown, it will be understood that, if desired, any number of trip-wires may be used with the flare by connecting the trip-wires to the link connection 64 or to each other, the trip wires preferably extending in different directions thereby providing additional tripping means for rendering the are effective to emit light therefrom.

While the invention has been described with reference to a particular example thereof which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is our intention, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

The invention described in the claims herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A trip-wire are comprising, a cup-like casing having the upper end thereof open, a pyrotcchnic candle arranged within said casing, a housing having a closure portion secured to and closing the open upper end of said casing, said closure portion including a breakable sealing disc disposed above said pyrotechnic candle, the housing also having an enlarged portion disposed on one side thereof, a tubular member removably secured within said enlarged portion whereby the casing and tubular o 6 members are disposed in adjacency, a ring assembly References Cited in the le of this patent disposed within said tubular member, a duct in said housing connecting the interior of said casing with the interior UNITED STATES PATENTS of said tubular member, a primer disposed within the 809,029 Stanford et al- Ian- 2, 1906 upper end of said tubular member adjacent said duct, 5 1,349,014 Steinmetz Aug. 10, 1920 a powder charge disposed in the tubular member between 2,075,813 King Apr. 6, 1937 said duct and said primer, and a trip-wire operatively con- 2,328,916 Le Comte Sept. 7, 1943 nected to said ring assembly and extending from the 2,374,179 Delalande Apr. 24, 1945 lower end of said tubular member, said trip-wire being 2,382,872 Giles Aug. 14. 1945 adapted to actuate the firing assembly whereby the primer res the powder charge and the powder charge explodes lo FOREIGN PATENTS through the duct to ignite the pyrotechnic candle and germagy. VIay 11g., break the sealing disc. reat rltain ug.

2. A trip-Wire are as defined in claim 1, and further 822,399 France Sept. 20, 1937 comprising strap means associated with said casing for 15 866,767 FranCe June 9, 1941 mounting said casing and said tubular member on a support. 

